Froth breaking apparatus



May 2, 1933. J. H. BRADFORD FRO'I'H BREAKING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 25. 1930 117$ K) r rm -1- .15.

v nations Patented my 2, 1933' UNITED STATES" PAT-ear"orncs JAMES n. naanroan, or TOOELE, nun, assrexon 'ro coiaanilzn imam nmwc'nox C MPANY, s'rocx'rox, run, a conrona'non or era! rao'm Bamxme arraaa'res Application filed Janna-125, 1830.. Serial No. 423,868.

I Various industrial processes produce alarge amount of froth or foam, and the principal object of the present invention is to devise simple, eflicient and rapid means for breaking down the bubblesin the froth and t do this efficiently andcompletely with a minimum expenditure of energy.

The invention consists principally in flexible or flexibly mounted switches depending from a rotatably mounted arm in such a position as to be drag ed through or across the froth bubbles. It also consists in the parts and in the arrangements and combiclaimed. I

In the accompanying drawing, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts wherever they occur,

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-section of an agitation tank, chamber or container, equipped with an agitator and a froth breaking device conforming to the present invention,

Fig. 2 is a detail view showing a modified form of froth breaking device; and

V. Fi 3 is also a detail view showing a modified form of froth breaking device.

In the construction illustrated in Fig. 1, can agitation or stirring or mixing tank 1 such as an ore treatment tankof standard desi contains liquid or pulp 2 anda remova le, cover 3, and with a propeller type agitator 4 suspended on a vertical shaft 5 in the middle of the tank 1. The shaft 5 passes through the cover 3, and is susported by suitable bearin 6 and 7 and is riven by a pulley 8', which in turn isdriven by a belt 9.

The switch froth breaker comprises a horizontal arm 10 whose length is shorter, than the internal diameter of the tank '1 and which is clamped at its middle to the shaft 5. Flexible switches 11 are attached to the arm 10 at their upper ends so as to han downwardly. The arm 10 is clam d to t e shaft 5 at such a distance from t e liquid or pulp 2 v that the lower ends of the flex ble switches 11 are slightly above the liquid or pulp 2 when the shaft 5 is revolving, as shown in the drawing.

The arm 10 with the switches 11 thereon,

rotates with the ha t 5 al ng with the pm- The switch tail froth-breaker is simple in 00 'sirable to place a.

of parts hereinafter described and agitator, or in high be'st'ationary." It may also be used in open. or closed*containers,i and if desired, the

peller agitator 4; the switches cutting through any, froth that may form on the surface of the liquid or. pulp 2. To prevent swirling of the liqpidiin the tank 1,,it is de -v afile: 12 across the tank or any suitable bafiles in the tank below the level of the liquid or pulp 2.

Preferably the breaker arm is adjustable I upzand down, either on its revolving shaft, or by raising or lowering the shaft. While the shaft is shown as depending into the tank through the cover thereof, it is obvious that it may be mounted below said tank andv extend upwardly through the bottom; thereof, or the shaft may be inclined as in the case of portable direct connected agitators that are fastened to the top edge of the container and project therein at an'angle- In the modified form shown in Fi 2, if desired, in order to enable more jsur ace of the flexible material tdcome into contact with the froth the lower ends of the flexible sgitches 11 areconnected by flexible strips The construction shownin Fi 3 shows members 14, either flexible or st i the upper endsof which contain hooks 15 which engage clamps 16 that are secured into the arm 10. Thus the switches are flexibly mounted. I v

It is noted that this apparatus can be used with any type of agitator or froth producing arrangement. Similarly a separate shaft can be used invconnectionwith a pneumatic agitator, where no mechanical a tetion is used, or where frothing results rom chemical or other causes.

The device constitutingthis construction may rotate in anoppo'site direction to the yswirling liquids may switches may be made hollow to rmit inrials into'the mixer or container. 'Also. the switches as shown'in Fig. 3 are flexibly mounted, whichvm'aybe preferable in some instances over-the flexible switch securely fixed at its upper end,f-as shown in Fig- 1.

troduction of gases, liquids, or ot er mate-y construction, is efficient, consumes very little power and if operated at the roper speed in relation to that of the liqui posi- -tively disintegrates froth and prevents its upward passage at a trifling cost and thus permits mixing of froth making materials and also makes possible simple methods of mixing chemicals or other materials which heretofore have required special and in some cases complicated and expensive apparatus. An additional advantage is its portability.

What I claim is:

1. Froth breaking apparatus comprislng a rotatable shaft, an arm secured thereto which rotates with said shaft, and elongated flexible switches depending from said arm.

2. Froth breaking apparatus comprising a vertically disposed rotatable shaft, an arm extending laterally from said shaft and elongated flexible switches depending from said arm.

3. Froth breaking apparatus comprising a vertically disposed rotatable shaft, an arm extending laterally from said shaft and flexibly mounted elongatedmembers depending from said arm. I

liquid level thereof and whose lower ends are connected with flexible strips.

10. F roth breaking apparatus comprising a container, a vertically disposed rotatable shaft therein, an agitator member mounted on said shaft in the lower portion of said container, a lateral arm mounted on said shaft above the normal liquid level thereof, and flexible switches depending from said arm whereby they cut through any froth that may form on the surface of the liquid.

11. Froth breaking apparatus comprising a container, appropriate baffles below the normal li uidlevel, a vertically disposed rotatable s aft therein, an agitator member mounted on said shaft, a lateral arm mounted on said shaft above the normal liquid level thereof, and flexible switches depending from said arm whereby they cut through any froth that may form on the surface of the liquid. Signed at Stockton, Utah, this 23d day of December, 1929.

JAMES H. BRADFORD.

4. The combination with a liquid container of a vertically disposed member therein, an arm extending laterally from said member and flexibly mounted elongated meme hers depending from said arm and means for effecting relative movement betweenthe depending membersand the liquid.

5. The combination with a liquid container of a vertically dis osed rotatable shaft therein, an arm exten ing laterally from said shaft, and elongated flexible switches depending from said arm to about the nor-- mal liquid level thereof.

6. The combination with a liquid container of a vertically disposed member therein,

an arm extendinglaterally from said memher and elongated flexible switches depending from said arm to about the normal liquid level thereof.

7 The combination with a container of a shaft therein a lateral arm mounted on said shaft above the normal liquid level thereof and flexible switches depending from said arm whereby they. cut through any froth that may form on the surface of the liquid.

9. The combination with a container of a vertically disposed rotatable shaft therein,

an arm extending laterally from said shaft and elongated flexible switches, the upper ends of which are attached to said arm and hang in vertical position to about the normal 

